[Birdtalk] Red-necked Grebe - still there, but ...

[STEPHEN T CARLILE]

Just got back from Orem looking for the Red-necked Grebe at Clegg's Pond.  Thanks to Milt and Jack for letting us know it was still there.  When I arrived, around 10:00, Tom Fletcher was already there looking for the bird.  Tom had been there for about an hour.  It was a good day for grebes.  We saw five species: Clark's, Pied-billed, Eared, Horned, and the RED-NECKED.  Song Sparrows, Black-capped Chickadees, and Brewer's Blackbirds were also present.

However, where we found the Red-necked and its behavior raised some concerns.  We had been scanning the pond and as we walked around we literally stumbled onto the Red-necked.  It was found in a very small inlet of the pond just south (15-20 feet) of the large elm tree with the swing.  (The tree is on the east side of the pond "access road".)  We were within 25 feet of the bird.  (We probably could have gotten closer, but decided to keep our distance.) The bird was up against the shore in only two or three inches of water.  The entire time we watched it, 15 or 20 minutes, it did not move, except to reposition its head and occasionally raise its head slightly so the rusty/red on the neck was visible.  The bird's eyes were closed as much as they were open.  Unless the bird was having a very slow morning or just being lazy, it was acting like it wasn't feel very well.

Thanks,

Stephen
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